As St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood gains popularity, some residents want to know: Where will everyone park?

To address that issue, the Capital River Council and council member Dave Thune will host a community meeting on Lowertown parking issues at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Jerome Hill Theater, 180 E. Fifth St. For more information, call Thune’s office at 651-266-8620.

City officials say the number of metered spaces downtown has actually increased by 10, with a new metering system and construction of the Central Corridor light-rail transit line. About 1,600 metered spaces exist downtown.

Nevertheless, upcoming projects such as the conversion of the Rayette Building from a parking ramp into residences will continue to reduce the number of private parking spots downtown. Meanwhile, construction of a new Lowertown ballpark is expected to draw even more commuters.

The city is considering a proposal to widen the Sixth Street sidewalk between Sibley and Wacouta streets, which could eliminate 21 or 22 spaces. Another proposal could eliminate six metered spaces on the south side of Prince Street east of Broadway, but no final decision has been made.

Frederick Melo was once sued by a reader for $2 million but kept on writing. He came to the Pioneer Press in 2005 and brings a testy East Coast attitude to St. Paul beat reporting. He spent nearly six years covering crime in the Dakota County courts before switching focus to the St. Paul mayor's office, city council, and all things neighborhood-related, from the city's churches to its parks and light rail. A resident of Hamline-Midway, he is married to a Frogtown woman. He Tweets with manic intensity at @FrederickMelo.

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